The Road Transport Department (RTD), Malaysia decided to progress the installation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras at 831 locations nationwide before the end of next year to enhance safety measure for the road commuters.

Director-General Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said that fourteen AES units have currently been installed, with seven in Perak, two in Selangor, five in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, apart from four mobile AES units.

Datuk Solah added that since the implementation on September 23 this year, the rate of traffic offences at strategic locations have been decreased by 75 per cent.

Despite the acts of vandalism occurring on Saturday and opposition towards its implementation, Datuk Solah said that the implementation would not be put on hold.

“I would like to stress that the AES cameras were installed to reduce road accidents and protect lives, including that of those who committed the act (of vandalising the cameras),” he said.

Two AES cameras were vandalised on Saturday in Selangor, in which the RTD would leave the case to the police to investigate and prosecute those involved in such act.

“We will proceed (the implementation) unless there is a directive from the Federal Government to do otherwise,” he said.

“The cameras were installed to save human lives and all parties should give their cooperation. If everyone, including political leaders, understands the reason behind the installation, there will be no questions about the implementation,” added Datuk Solah after a briefing session on AES implementation to government department officers, non-governmental organisations and the media at the state RTD headquarters on Saturday.

The two-hour briefing on AEC was attended by some 150 heads of department and officers from government agencies and non-governmental organisations who revealed the support over the AES scheme.

State RTD Director Ahmad Musadad said the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) had located 86 “black spots”—accident-prone areas, in all twelve districts in the state.

“The AES cameras would be installed at all black spots by next year,” he said, adding that 60 would be for speed limits and the remainder for traffic lights.

The Road Transport Department RTD Malaysia decided to progress the installation of the Automated Enforcement System AES cameras at 831 locations nationwide before the end of next year to enhance safety measure for the road commuters